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Target Berlin - a mini campign based on real events
Well, my friends and I have played through the Berlin Bombing Raid campaign and have had a number of excellent games as a result.
We had four players, each controlling a group of three B-17s from the following Bomb Groups:
91st Bomb Group
100th Bomb Group
381st Bomb Group
390th Bomb Group
We played each of the scenarios through in sequence, with the following results.
91st Bomb Group
Th 91st group lost one B-17 to enemy fighters before reaching Berlin, a second aircraft received heavy damage during the same attack and left the formation as a straggler to try and return to the UK. The remaining aircraft reached Berlin and scored partial hits on the primary target, before returning safely to the UK. The lone straggler succumbed to its damage before reaching the Channel. The crew baled out and the aircraft crashed.
This group claimed 3 enemy fighters shot down during the mission.
100th Bomb Group
The "Bloody 100th" lived up to its name.
In the opening scenario one aircraft was engaged by no less than five enemy fighters over Haselunne, and although it was believed that the gunners shot down or damaged 3 enemy fighters, the B-17 was badly damaged and, with one engine on fire, it was forced to leave the formation. The aircraft subsequently crashed before reach the Channel.
In the same engagement a second B-17 was shot down, last seen falling out of formation trailing smoke and flames with a large part of the rudder missing. Again it was believed that the gunners had damaged several enemy fighters.
The remaining B-17 reached Berlin, where it came under heavy and accurate flak, receiving four hits during the run in to the target. The pilot was wounded by the flak, which also set the aircraft on fire.. The aircraft managed to release it bombs, scoring a direct hit on the primary target, only to be bracketed by flak a fifth time. The aircraft was last seen falling over Berlin trailing smoke and flames.
Note from the umpire: Despite the group's losses, it was the only group to score a direct hit on the target, and also shot down four Me109 and one FW190, claiming a further seven damaged or probables!
381st Bomb Group
The group was not attacked by enemy fighters during the flight to Berlin, but came under heavy and accurate Flak over the target. All three of its aircraft were hit, with one of the B-17s breaking up in mid-air after releasing its bombs due to a direct hit from flak. The remaining aircraft managed to return safely to England with the bomber stream but one had suffered extensive fire damage and was subsequently declared unserviceable. The group scored a partial hit on the primary target.
390th Bomb Group
As with the 381st BG, the 390th group was not engaged by enemy fighters during the flight to Berlin, but again came under heavy and accurate Flak over the target, with one bomber being lost to flak and fire during the run in to the target. The remaining two aircraft suffered some damage but managed partial hits on the primary target.
On the return flight the group was engaged by enemy fighters (including Me110s) but by this time the group was under the protection of USAAF fighters. Although the enemy fighters managed to inflict some damage on the bombers the American escorts managed to damage several Me109s and forced the others to break off their attacks. Due to the presence of the US fighters, the Me110s made no real effort to engage and broke off once it was apparent that the American fighters had the upper hand.
Some pictures from the games
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Summary
All of the Bomb Groups succeeded in hitting their primary targets, however only five of the 12 aircraft returned to the UK. Five were shot down during the mission, with two stragglers failing to reach the English Channel and crashing over France.
As a game, the campaign provided us with a number of exciting and realistic scenarios. The bomber players knew what they were trying to achieve and made every effort to get the bombers to their target. The rules covering the effect of damage to German aircraft worked well, forcing damaged German fighters to break off realistically instead of fighting to the death. This gave the bombers a chance.
However, it has to be said that most of the damage inflicted on the bombers during the aerial battles was the result of the massed head on attacks by the enemy fighters. If the players controlling the fighters timed their attack well, several fighters could engage one of the bombers and the results were frequently devastating.
The US escorts also played their part, shooting down several German fighters and damaging others, some of which could have been claimed as "probables", while also managing to prevent a number of the enemy from being able to close with the bombers.
So, overall and interesting campaign, which gave us a good insight into the daylight operations over central Europe during the big bomber raids. We will almost certainly play it again at a later date.
My only real disappointment was that the flak was probably a bit too effective, but we couldn't change the rules halfway through the game. I have updated the campaign Flak rules with two less "dangerous" alternative versions so those who try the game can choose which they prefer to use.
Details on how I developed the campaign can be found here:
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/sho...ainst-the-B-17
The campaign rules are here:
